Airway pressure therapy used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea

People with OSA have a higher risk of death and chronic disease and issues linked with memory problems, learning and concentration and poor quality of life. Current guidelines recommend that all people with tetraplegia and symptoms of sleepiness undergo a full sleep study to diagnose OSA or not. However, very few spinal units have access to this expensive and highly specialised equipment, a sleep scientist to perform the test and sleep physician to understand and communicate the results. It is therefore likely that most people with tetraplegia and OSA are undiagnosed and untreated.

This project aims to develop and test whether a questionnaire followed by an overnight finger probe that measures the oxygen level of the blood can accurately detect OSA in people with tetraplegia. If successful this simple screening model could replace the need for a full sleep study, improving the diagnosis of OSA and enabling people with tetraplegia and OSA to access treatment.